Shoulder-brace



PUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. s

HENRY F. BRIGGS, 0F POUGI-IKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

SHOULDER-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 5,565, dated May 16, 1848; AntedatedNovember 16, 1847.

To all whom imag concern Be it known that I, HENRY F. Barcos, ofPoughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have madecertain Improvements in the Mode of Constructing a Suspender Combining aSpinal and Shoul der Brace; and I do'hereby declare that the followingis a full and eXact description.

Such is the application and arrangement of elastic straps in this bracethat whatever may be the inclination of the body forward or sidewise, orthe motions of the shoulders, t-heir action tends to assist the musclesto restore an upright and natural position; consequently its use willhave a `tendency to preserve the symmetrical development and naturaltone of all the muscles with which it acts. The weight that renders iteffective, is in the pants of t-he male and skirts of the female. Thusas a suspender for the male and skirt supporter for females, it acts onphysiological principles. For while the Weight of the clothingcontributes to the power of the brace the brace yields to all themotions of the body without unpleasa-ntly drawing the clothes. Hence iteXerts no injurious pressure on any part of the body, nor does itcircumscribe the action of any muscle or set of muscles. It has no beltaround t-he waist; consequently it produces no injurious pressure uponthe epigastric region or any other interference wit-h the respiratorymuscles. For ordinary cases of round shoulders or contracted chests itis an efficient remedy. It is also useful in cases of spinal curvature.The point of greatest pressure is over and about the acromion process;which pressure being backward, the action of the trapezius and othermuscles is thus aided, and the respiratory muscles are thus better ableto raise the ribs and assist diflicult respiration. It aids thesatissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles in restoring the body to an erectposition when it inclines to either side and affords assistance to thesplenius, compleXus, dorsal and other muscles of the back in retainingthe vertebral column in a natural erect position. These various eectsare produced by the peculiar arrangement and elasticity of the differentparts of the brace fespecially the suspender part (see drawing E, F F,G).

To enable others to make and use my invention I will proceed to describeits construction and operation.

I construct the back piece (see drawing letter A,) and shoulder caps B,B B B of satin jean or other suitable material, one end of the shouldercaps B B I connect to the back piece A, by means of elastic stra-ps- C CC C, spiral springs or any other substance which will produce therequired elasticity and to the other end of said caps is attached astrip of cotton webbing D, D or other suitable material which isconnected by means of a buckle to elastic straps E E which support thepantaloons behind and which serve in part as suspend-ers. The pantaloonsare supported in front by the attachment on each side just above thehip, of straps G Gronnecting elastic straps F F FF which are attached toback piece A.

K K are wires or other suitable material, so arranged as to allow strapsE E free play while it connects them with F F and G.

From the outer edge of shoulder caps B B I cut out a gore nearly halfacross said caps bring the outer edges of said caps together and inserta piece of elastic H, H,

about one inch long and half an inch wide,

to give freedom of action to the shoulders and upward motions of the armand prevent disagreeable tightness under the arm, and also to cause saidcaps the better to iit the shoulders. Just back of these elastic piecesH, H, thin pieces of whalebone I I are inserted across the caps B B toprevent them from wrinkling.

The brace for ladies differs from that for gentlemen in the followingparticulars, viz: Instead of butto-nholes J J lJ J buttons are used towhich the skirts are attached by means of loops.

The power of the brace can be increased or diminished at pleasure bymeans of buckles connected with straps G, G, D, D.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isThe manner of constructing the brace by combining` with the shoulderstrap the straps F F and E with their loops for fastening in the mannerset forth and in combinat-ion therewith the elastic piece in theshoulder strap as set forth.

HENRY F. BRIGGS Witnesses:

L. M. NORTHROP, B. M. HEEMANS.

